He is yet to win a race but trainer Anthony Cummings believes that lightly-raced colt Cluster is good enough to be the best three-year-old in Australia.

Cluster will be looking to turn-the-tables on Va Pensiero when they clash in The Run To The Rose at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart

The son of Fastnet Rock will have an opportunity to record his first race win in the Group 3 The Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday after he finished an unlucky second first-up in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on August 17.

Cluster travelled beautifully in the run during the San Domenico Stakes but was held up for clear running in the straight and could only finish second behind Va Pensiero when he finally got through on the rails in the final stages of the race.

Cummings told TVN that he has an extremely high opinion about the current group of three-year-old horses and is confident that Cluster has the ability to be the best of the lot.

“I think he has the potential to be the best three-year-old this season and he has to start proving that now,” Cummings said.

“I was very happy with his first-up run when he was unlucky not to have won and he had a nice gallop here this morning.

“He will just need a bit of luck on Saturday, I know that it’s a hot race, but he’s going in the right direction.”

Cluster is expected to press towards the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 14, where he could meet classy stablemate Drago, and he is a chance to head to Melbourne later in the spring after being included in the nominations for both the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m).

Just like in recent years The Run To The Rose is set to be a key form guide for the Golden Rose, with the three leading chances in Golden Rose betting markets – Sidestep, Zoustar and Eurozone – all expected to contest the race.